HPLF WX Forum
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.

Fifty Ways to Leave the Dursleys

Go down

Fifty Ways to Leave the Dursleys Empty Fifty Ways to Leave the Dursleys

Post  Lady Arabella Sat Mar 07, 2015 6:55 pm

The following is an archive of material originally posted on the Harry Potter Lexicon Forum, hosted by World Crossing, which ceased operations on April 15, 2011
Lady Arabella
Lady Arabella
Prefect
Prefect

Posts : 2566
Join date : 2011-02-22
Location : Silicon Valley, CA

Back to top Go down

Fifty Ways to Leave the Dursleys Empty Re: Fifty Ways to Leave the Dursleys

Post  Lady Arabella Sat Mar 07, 2015 6:58 pm

Fifty Ways to Leave the  Dursleys

freshwater - Aug 13, 2008 11:44 am Reply
Edited by Kip Carter Dec 2, 2008 3:37 pm

Please choose one exit for each of these 4 categories: Funniest , Most Exciting , My Favorite and Most Surprising . The 7 choices below can each be selected more than once.

1) In PS/SS Harry was abandoned at King’s Cross Station by Vernon Dursley, but serendipitously meets the Weasley family.

2) In CoS, Harry is rescued from his bedroom at #4 Privet Dr. by Fred, George and Ron in the flying Ford Anglia.

3) In PoA, Harry runs away after “blowing up” his Aunt Marge, and ends up taking the Knight Bus to Diagon Alley.

4) In GoF, Arthur, Fred and George floo into –and break out of—the Dursley’s fireplace…leaving behind a Ton-Tongue Toffee for Dudley.

5) In OotP, Harry is escorted by members of the Order –including Nyphadora Tonks and Mad-Eye Moody—to #12 Grimmauld Place.

6) In HBP, Dumbledore visits with the Dursleys, then side-along apparatus Harry to the Burrow, stopping along the way to visit with Horace Slughorn.

7) In DH, the Dursley family is evacuated by Dadelus Diggle and Hestia Jones, then Harry is once again escorted away from #4 Privet Dr. by Order members employing the “7 Potters” plan.

Host shepherdess actually did the work necessary (Aug 13, 2008 3:53 pm) to get this thread in the Opinions area; however because I made some minor edits, my username appear not as the one who did the work. I post this here because I think shepherdess deserves the credit. - Kip

_____________________________________

freshwater - Aug 13, 2008 11:57 am (#1 of 28)

Because this poll has a different format than the most recent polls...here's an example of the kind of response I'd like for this poll:

Funniest: #7...loved when 6 Order members morphed into Harry-look-alikes and then commented and complained!

Most Exciting: again, for me, #7....the immediate ambush took me by surprise and then the action didn't stop for nearly 2 chapters

My Favorite: so hard to choose....probably #1 because it felt so good to get Harry away from those nasty people and to be beginning his new adventure.

Most Surprising: I was going to say #3 due to the unexpected appearance of the Knight Bus....but I'm going to go with #6 instead....we hadn't seen Dumbledore on Privet Dr. for 15 years....

So...does this make sense? I'll tally each category separately at the end of the poll.

_____________________________________

Orion - Aug 13, 2008 1:13 pm (#2 of 28)

Funniest: #2, the flying Ford Anglia, because it has Fred and George in it.

Most exciting: #3, the Knight Bus, because you bite your knuckles all the time - will Harry get expelled? Will he go to Azkaban? Will he get mugged in the nocturnal alley? Will the black dog kill him?

My favourite: #3, the Knight Bus, because of the beds, the cocoa, the lamps which jump out of the way, and everything. The Knight Bus is the best thing that Rowling ever invented. You instantly want to hop it. It's not only magical, it's something like the Heart Of Gold (the spaceship from Hitchhiker's Guide), you can flag it down, and it gets you everywhere you want.

Most surprising: #3, the Knight Bus, because it's totally unexpected and I really wonder how Rowling has ideas like that.

_____________________________________

freshwater - Aug 13, 2008 1:37 pm (#3 of 28)

I'm sorry that I can't credit the person who suggested this poll....because I forgot to write it down. But it seems that it was Chemyst...or John Bumbledore...or Twinkling Blue Eyes....**scowls at middle-aged memory gaps** If it was your idea, please speak up so we can thank you!

_____________________________________

Potteraholic - Aug 13, 2008 1:41 pm (#4 of 28)

Funniest ? 4) In GoF, Arthur, Fred and George floo into –and break out of—the Dursley’s fireplace…leaving behind a Ton-Tongue Toffee for Dudley.

Most Exciting ? 2) In CoS, Harry is rescued from his bedroom at #4 Privet Dr. by Fred, George and Ron in the flying Ford Anglia.

My Favorite ? 6) In HBP, Dumbledore visits with the Dursleys, then side-along apparatus Harry to the Burrow, stopping along the way to visit with Horace Slughorn.

Most Surprising ? 1) In PS/SS Harry was abandoned at King’s Cross Station by Vernon Dursley, but serendipitously meets the Weasley family.

Edit: Just thought I'd explain why I picked #1 as Most Surprising. I guess, even though the Dursleys were clearly portrayed as being a despicable sort of family in the first few chapters, I was still surprised (mortified) that they just left(!) Harry there at the station with his huge trunk and no one to see him off (poor love!). But then, I was pleasantly surprised to meet the Weasley clan there!



_____________________________________

Anna L. Black - Aug 13, 2008 1:43 pm (#5 of 28)

Funniest: #4. Arthur is funny with muggles, and the twins are... well, the twins.

Most Exciting: #6, I think. DD coming to take Harry away is just the beginning of his telling Harry lots of interesting stuff (too bad he didn't tell the whole truth). Now that I think about it, DD at the Dursleys has some funny moments, too...

Favorite: #3, I guess. Sirius(!), alone for the first time at Diagon Alley (Any kid (age 13) would envy him!).

Most surprising: #7. It was obvious they'll be attacked, but this whole chapter just majes your head spin (Harry's too, probably.)

Edit: Now, after reading the other answers, I feel like changing all of mine But I'll stick to them, for consistency sake, or whatever.

_____________________________________

Mrs. Sirius - Aug 13, 2008 9:51 pm (#6 of 28)

Funniest GoF, loved Mr Weasley trying to be social with the muggles, be one of them, but getting the full dose of muggle. Of course we see our first hint of what's to come from the twins.

Most Exciting OOTP, I think the 3 year wait added to the breathtaking anxioty of what will happen to Harry. Meeting Remus for the first time in 2 years, and Moody for the first time. It takes a while to trust these people but once you do it's just thrilling.

My Favorite it is a toss up between OoTP and DH, but I think I'll go with OoTP because while it has the potential for danger, it doesn't come to pass. In DH the danger is ever present and it does happen, plus we lose Hedwig. You never have a chance to catch your breath in DH, it goes from potential danger to present danger without stopping.

Most Surprising Once again toss up, DH, OoTP, and POA. So much character development is shown in DH. Harry's concern for his friends safety, their concern for his, killing Hedwig, was so shocking, and I just loved, Hagrid flying Harry out of the home that he had cried to take him to in his infancy. In PoA, we see Harry becoming a teenager, with the first touches of the hormones and emotions that go with the teenage territory, the first signs the JKR knows teenage development intends to keep him a real kid not a book ideal (ie Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys).

I hate not having PS/SS on this list it's our first entrance to the magical world our first opportunity to enter the wizarding world and start the adventure, Harry meets his first emotional family, his best friend and future wife. Without PS/SS we wouldn't have the pure fantasy, escape. And I also love DD at 4 PD, the charming gracious man the Petunia, might never have actually met in that home. And of course my great favorite, "Will and Won't"

_____________________________________

TwinklingBlueEyes - Aug 14, 2008 5:34 am (#7 of 28)

Funniest : 4) In GoF, Arthur, Fred and George floo into –and break out of—the Dursley’s fireplace…leaving behind a Ton-Tongue Toffee for Dudley.

Most Exciting : 3) In PoA, Harry runs away after “blowing up” his Aunt Marge, and ends up taking the Knight Bus to Diagon Alley.

My Favorite : 6) In HBP, Dumbledore visits with the Dursleys, then side-along apparatus Harry to the Burrow, stopping along the way to visit with Horace Slughorn.

and Most Surprising : 6) In HBP, Dumbledore visits with the Dursleys, then side-along apparatus Harry to the Burrow, stopping along the way to visit with Horace Slughorn.

Wasn't my idea FreshWater, but thanks for the thought!

_____________________________________

freshwater - Aug 14, 2008 7:07 am (#8 of 28)

I hate not having PS/SS on this list..."--Mrs. Sirius

But, Mrs. Sirius, it is on the list....it is #1. Do you want to change any of your answers?

_____________________________________

journeymom - Aug 14, 2008 9:12 am (#9 of 28)

Funniest DH: Fleur walked over to stand beside [Bill], giving him a soppy, slavish look that Harry hoped with all his heart would never appear on his face again.

Most Exciting PoA: I loved the whole angry confrontation between Harry and Aunt Marge, and then poor Harry high-tailing it out of there.

Most Surprising CoS: Fred and George (and Ron) to the rescue! Never saw that coming.

Favorite DH: Funny, surprising and exciting. Dumbledore in the Dursley's living room, what a contrast. Dumbledore taking Harry on a trip, Dumbledore sharing some information. Finally! That was very satisfying.

_____________________________________

Anna L. Black - Aug 14, 2008 9:34 am (#10 of 28)

Journeymom, did you mean HBP as favorite?

freshwater, I think Mrs. Sirius hates the fact that she didn't choose PS in any of the categories... But I might be mistaken

_____________________________________

Potteraholic - Aug 14, 2008 10:32 am (#11 of 28)

Anna, that's how I read Mrs. Sirius' comment, too!



_____________________________________

journeymom - Aug 14, 2008 12:25 pm (#12 of 28)

Oh, stink! Yes, I meant HBP for my favorite!

_____________________________________

freshwater - Aug 14, 2008 5:38 pm (#13 of 28)

That's OK, journeymom, I'll be sure to count HBP as your favorite.

Thanks for explaining Mrs. Sirius' viewpoint for me Anna and PAH....I must have misinterpreted her meaning.

_____________________________________

Hogwarts Class of 85 - Aug 15, 2008 9:03 am (#14 of 28)

Funniest - HBP - its all about Dumbledore

Most Exciting - hard to beat DH

Most Surprising - PoA

Favourite - PoA

_____________________________________

kingdolohov - Aug 15, 2008 12:38 pm (#15 of 28)

Funniest: 6 - Although we'd seen the Dursleys frightened by their encounters with wizards in the past, this was Dumbledore thoroughly enjoying himself by giving them a very hard time for how they'd treated Harry and how they were treating him.

Most exciting: 7 - No contest for me: a chase, deaths, and Voldemort.

My favorite: 7 - I enjoyed the little bits about Harry taking a last look around #4 Privet Drive and almost forgetting to watch it as he flew away, and Dudley's reaction.

Most surprising: 2 - It surprised me as much as it surprised Harry.

_____________________________________

rcs - Aug 15, 2008 3:32 pm (#16 of 28)

Here's an idea:

Trip to London on the Knight Bus: 11 Sickles

Repairing a broken fireplace: 30 Galleons

Flying Ford Anglia: 800 Galleons

Finding out you're a wizard: Priceless

There are some things gold can't buy; for everything else, there's WizCard, now available by owl order.

_____________________________________

freshwater - Aug 15, 2008 5:20 pm (#17 of 28)

Very clever, rcs! Now all you need is some photos and a logo and you would have a super HP greeting card!

_____________________________________

geauxtigers - Aug 15, 2008 7:59 pm (#18 of 28)

Funniest, 6
Most exciting 2
Favorite 7 and 4- it's a dead tie! I can't decide!
Most surprising 1

_____________________________________

Mrs. Sirius - Aug 15, 2008 9:06 pm (#19 of 28)

rcs ha ha ha, that's very funny. I love it.

_____________________________________

Mrs Brisbee - Aug 18, 2008 5:35 am (#20 of 28)

Funniest: 4. Arthur and the boys getting stuck in the fireplace was hilarious. HBP is close with that one golden moment where Dumbledore shows up at the door, and Harry realizes he forgot to mention to the Dursleys that they might have a late-night wizard guest. Fred and George's ""Look, we're identical" from DH is also a contender.

Most Exciting: 7. Follows Alfred Hitchcock's rule for building suspense-- let us in on the danger, while the characters are unaware.

My Favorite: 1. Lose the Dursleys, gain the Weasleys, can't get much better than that!

Most Surprising: 3. Blowing up Aunt Marge, running away, watched by a mysterious creature, and when the Knight Bus showed up I was like "What the--?" One unexpected thing after another.

_____________________________________

Choices - Aug 18, 2008 8:43 am (#21 of 28)

#4 is my favorite. It had me laughing out loud.

_____________________________________

Verity Weasley - Aug 19, 2008 2:56 pm (#22 of 28)

Funniest - definitely #4, the arrival of half the Weasleys behind the boarded up fireplace at the Dursleys in GOF.

Most exciting - #7, the flight of the seven Potters in DH.

My favourite - #6, when DD shows up and tells the Dursleys some home truths. This one was also a close contender for funniest, with the floating glasses of mead and the Dursley's stunned reactions.

Most surprising - #3, POA with Harry fleeing Privet Drive and srendipitously discovering the Knight Bus.

_____________________________________

mona amon - Aug 25, 2008 9:00 pm (#23 of 28)

Funniest- #4 I guess, it's certainly the funniest one here. But I didn't find the Ton-tongue toffee very funny.

Most exciting- #7, The Seven Potters Chase, definitely!

My favourite- #3, Harry escaping on the Knight bus after blowing up Aunt Marge. He has absolutely no clue as to what's going to happen next, and neither do we, and then everything turns out well.

Most surprising- #2, the Flying Ford Anglia.

_____________________________________

rcs - Aug 26, 2008 3:21 am (#24 of 28)

Funniest: #4, definitely! The boarded-up fireplace, Mr. Weasley's antics, and Fred and George's darn Ton-Tongue Toffee! What more can I say?

Most exciting: Has to be #7. When else has Harry's departure from the Dursleys resulted in a full-scale battle?

My favorite: #2, I think. There's something I've always liked about Ron and the Twins showing up out of the blue to rescue Harry from his near-imprisonment by the Dursleys.

Most surprising: Probably #3, with Harry blowing up Aunt Marge. Who'd have guessed THAT was going to happen? And the Knight Bus was also quite unexpected. (Although, I have to say all of Harry's departures are surprising in there own way; #5 and #7 were both strong runners up for this one.)

_____________________________________

Julia H. - Aug 28, 2008 1:13 pm (#25 of 28)

Funniest: #4. The Weasleys and the Dursleys together! LOL!

Most exciting: #7. There is so much at stake and the situation is more dangerous than ever.

My favourite: That is difficult. #3 and #4 perhaps, so I'll say #3 because I have already chosen #4 as the funniest one (which might actually be the reason why it is my favourite as well).

Most surprising: All of them are surprising, JKR makes that sure. So I'll choose #6 because by the beginning of HBP we have got used to the idea that Harry leaves after some kind of family scandal or domestic disaster, which does not happen in HBP. Instead, he leaves in the company of DD himself! That is a surprise. Yet, we face quite a few mysteries: DD's hand, Harry's inheritance, DD needing Harry's help etc.

_____________________________________

Liz Mann - Oct 21, 2008 11:12 am (#26 of 28)

Funniest - HBP because Dumbledore is so great and so hilarious!

Most Exciting - DH because of the ambush.

My Favourite - Oh dear, I can't choose. I have a soft spot for most of them. I think I'll go with... CoS.

Most Surprising - HBP, because I didn't expect to see Dumbledore there.

_____________________________________

Anna L. Black - Oct 31, 2008 9:30 am (#27 of 28)

50 Ways to leave the Dursleys

There are actually 4 quizzes in 1 here, so I won't post detailed percentages for each book, only the final results for each category. The options, as we all know, were:

1) In PS/SS Harry was abandoned at King’s Cross Station by Vernon Dursley, but serendipitously meets the Weasley family.

2) In CoS, Harry is rescued from his bedroom at #4 Privet Dr. by Fred, George and Ron in the flying Ford Anglia.

3) In PoA, Harry runs away after “blowing up” his Aunt Marge, and ends up taking the Knight Bus to Diagon Alley.

4) In GoF, Arthur, Fred and George floo into –and break out of—the Dursley’s fireplace…leaving behind a Ton-Tongue Toffee for Dudley.

5) In OotP, Harry is escorted by members of the Order –including Nyphadora Tonks and Mad-Eye Moody—to #12 Grimmauld Place.

6) In HBP, Dumbledore visits with the Dursleys, then side-along apparatus Harry to the Burrow, stopping along the way to visit with Horace Slughorn.

7) In DH, the Dursley family is evacuated by Dadelus Diggle and Hestia Jones, then Harry is once again escorted away from #4 Privet Dr. by Order members employing the “7 Potters” plan.

The categories:

Funniest
GoF - 56%
HBP - 25%
DH - 13%
CoS - 6%
PS/SS, PoA and OotP didn't get votes for that category.

Most Exciting
DH - 56%
PoA - 19%
CoS - 13%
OotP - 6%
HBP - 6%
PS/SS and GoF didn't get votes for that category.

Most Surprising
PoA - 38%
CoS - 19%
HBP - 19%
PS/SS - 13%
DH - 13%
GoF and OotP didn't get votes for that category.

My Favourite
PoA - 29%
HBP - 24%
PS/SS - 12%
CoS - 12%
DH - 12%
GoF - 6%
OotP - 6%


To sum up everything:
Goblet of Fire was the funniest, Deathly Hallows the most exciting, and PoA was both the most surprising and the general favourite (though that was the only category in which all the books were voted for, and there wasn't a big gap between the winner and the second place).

_____________________________________

Potteraholic - Oct 31, 2008 1:39 pm (#28 of 28)

Thanks for doing this, Anna! 100 points for your house!
Lady Arabella
Lady Arabella
Prefect
Prefect

Posts : 2566
Join date : 2011-02-22
Location : Silicon Valley, CA

Back to top Go down

Back to top

- Similar topics

 
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum